Post by QPR Report on Feb 2, 2009 9:48:25 GMT
Swindon Advertiser/Owen Houlihan
Pat the centre of attention
PAT Kanyuka was as surprised as anyone by the selection call that had visiting eyebrows all around Boundary Park quizzically raised on Saturday.
The appearance of the former QPR centre-back in the centre of Town’s midfield dominated the pre-match discussion as Danny Wilson sprung his second selection surprise in a week, following the unveiling of a new-look line-up for the 3-2 home success over Walsall.
Even Kanyuka, without experience in a centre-of-the-park role since his schoolboy days with Millwall, admitted he had found his manager’s positional request “unusual.’’ By the end of 90 hard-fought, defiant minutes though, Wilson’s bold call - he rejected talk of ‘a gamble’ - looked like a masterstroke as the frustrated Latics foundered on Town’s solid defensive rocks.
Kanyuka - sharp new haircut and all - emerged to heap praise on his manager’s willingness to experiment in search of the points that can pull Town clear of the wrong end of Coca Cola League One.
The Congolese youngster’s efforts earned him a tongue-in-cheek cry of ‘Viera’ from teammate Jon-Paul McGovern in the changing rooms afterwards and while it was unlikely you could mistake him for Arsenal’s former rampaging midfielder, the 21-year-old at least delivered a performance effective in its simplicity.
A vital tackle here, a simple pass there, he did it all, before making way for Craig Easton after 75 minutes, his work done.
“During the week, I didn’t think I would be involved because we were practising the back four and I wasn’t in it,’’ he revealed.
“Then I got brought into the centre during training. I thought it was a bit unusual, but I got on with it.
“It was sort of confusing to start with, but I got the hang of what the manager wanted me to do as the game went on so I enjoyed it. I tried to do well for the team.
“It’s a learning curve and in future, if the manager wants me to do a job I will know what to expect and prepare right. When I got off the pitch I felt all right, but there is a lot to think about but I’ll know the next time if the manager wants to put me there.
“For me in a new position there was a lot more running than I’m used to. I thought it was quite strange being in midfield but I was trying my best and hoping to repay him (the manager) by performing out there for him.’’ “He (Wilson) said to me he put me in there because he thought highly of me as a player. I was there to destroy really. The manager showed a huge amount of trust in me and I hope I repaid him by the end.’’ Not that Kanyuka was the only Town player excelling. Far from it.
Across the board, there was plenty for the small band of travelling fans from Wiltshire to be proud of as their side emerged with a richly deserved point.
Buoyed by the ‘destroyer’ role of his midfield partner, youngster Chris Allen delivered a mature performance full of creative intent while behind him, a defence expertly marshalled by the on-loan Gordon Greer and fit-again Jamie Vincent subdued Oldham’s dangerous attack, leaving 15-goal Lee Hughes surviving on scraps and the evergreen Dean Windass largely anonymous.
When the Latics did break though, the giant Peter Brezovan was in commanding form between the sticks.
There was even time for an entertaining last-quarter cameo from bustling Frenchman Hamdi Razak who, in 25 incident-packed minutes could have been both sent off and celebrating a quite stunning volleyed goal, but for the intervention of home goalkeeper Greg Fleming.
The visitors could lay claim to having the better of a first half notable only for its lack of incident.
Greer nearly opened the scoring from Hal Robson-Kanu’s corner 13 minutes in, arriving late at the far post but failing to control his rising effort before Billy Paynter’s sharp turn and shot required a smart fingertip wide from Fleming just after the half hour.
Perhaps spurred on by the jeers of their own supporters, it was inevitable that Oldham would come out strong in the second half.
Yet although Windass fired wide when well placed not long after the restart, the home side rarely looked like fashioning the goal that would have changed the game.
Indeed, Paynter should have done better than completely missing a teasing far post cross from 56th-minute sub Anthony McNamee before Razak’s arrival nearly brought about a headline-making moment.
The striker, signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season only this week, scissor-kicked a searing volley from the edge of the box which was heading for the top corner before Fleming spectacularly palmed it away.
Razak nearly went from the sublime to the ridiculous with a series of enthusiastic challenges that earned the wrath of, and a ticking off from, referee Steve Bratt.
Oldham belatedly carved out three decent chances, an unmarked Hughes first heading wastefully wide from a free-kick before seeing Brezovan claw clear another goalbound nod 11 minutes from time.
And the big Slovak produced an equally brilliant effort to turn sub Lewis Alessandra’s strike around a post with five minutes to go.
So, only the second clean sheet of the season for Town the previous one being the 2-0 win over - you’ve guessed it - Oldham back on October 25 Kanyuka added: “Everyone is happy about the clean sheet and we can only move on to the next game on a high.
“It was a set-up to not get beat. Every man won their individual battle and it was a good point. We’ll get a huge amount of confidence from this result.’’
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/4092624.Pat_the_centre_of_attention/
Pat the centre of attention
PAT Kanyuka was as surprised as anyone by the selection call that had visiting eyebrows all around Boundary Park quizzically raised on Saturday.
The appearance of the former QPR centre-back in the centre of Town’s midfield dominated the pre-match discussion as Danny Wilson sprung his second selection surprise in a week, following the unveiling of a new-look line-up for the 3-2 home success over Walsall.
Even Kanyuka, without experience in a centre-of-the-park role since his schoolboy days with Millwall, admitted he had found his manager’s positional request “unusual.’’ By the end of 90 hard-fought, defiant minutes though, Wilson’s bold call - he rejected talk of ‘a gamble’ - looked like a masterstroke as the frustrated Latics foundered on Town’s solid defensive rocks.
Kanyuka - sharp new haircut and all - emerged to heap praise on his manager’s willingness to experiment in search of the points that can pull Town clear of the wrong end of Coca Cola League One.
The Congolese youngster’s efforts earned him a tongue-in-cheek cry of ‘Viera’ from teammate Jon-Paul McGovern in the changing rooms afterwards and while it was unlikely you could mistake him for Arsenal’s former rampaging midfielder, the 21-year-old at least delivered a performance effective in its simplicity.
A vital tackle here, a simple pass there, he did it all, before making way for Craig Easton after 75 minutes, his work done.
“During the week, I didn’t think I would be involved because we were practising the back four and I wasn’t in it,’’ he revealed.
“Then I got brought into the centre during training. I thought it was a bit unusual, but I got on with it.
“It was sort of confusing to start with, but I got the hang of what the manager wanted me to do as the game went on so I enjoyed it. I tried to do well for the team.
“It’s a learning curve and in future, if the manager wants me to do a job I will know what to expect and prepare right. When I got off the pitch I felt all right, but there is a lot to think about but I’ll know the next time if the manager wants to put me there.
“For me in a new position there was a lot more running than I’m used to. I thought it was quite strange being in midfield but I was trying my best and hoping to repay him (the manager) by performing out there for him.’’ “He (Wilson) said to me he put me in there because he thought highly of me as a player. I was there to destroy really. The manager showed a huge amount of trust in me and I hope I repaid him by the end.’’ Not that Kanyuka was the only Town player excelling. Far from it.
Across the board, there was plenty for the small band of travelling fans from Wiltshire to be proud of as their side emerged with a richly deserved point.
Buoyed by the ‘destroyer’ role of his midfield partner, youngster Chris Allen delivered a mature performance full of creative intent while behind him, a defence expertly marshalled by the on-loan Gordon Greer and fit-again Jamie Vincent subdued Oldham’s dangerous attack, leaving 15-goal Lee Hughes surviving on scraps and the evergreen Dean Windass largely anonymous.
When the Latics did break though, the giant Peter Brezovan was in commanding form between the sticks.
There was even time for an entertaining last-quarter cameo from bustling Frenchman Hamdi Razak who, in 25 incident-packed minutes could have been both sent off and celebrating a quite stunning volleyed goal, but for the intervention of home goalkeeper Greg Fleming.
The visitors could lay claim to having the better of a first half notable only for its lack of incident.
Greer nearly opened the scoring from Hal Robson-Kanu’s corner 13 minutes in, arriving late at the far post but failing to control his rising effort before Billy Paynter’s sharp turn and shot required a smart fingertip wide from Fleming just after the half hour.
Perhaps spurred on by the jeers of their own supporters, it was inevitable that Oldham would come out strong in the second half.
Yet although Windass fired wide when well placed not long after the restart, the home side rarely looked like fashioning the goal that would have changed the game.
Indeed, Paynter should have done better than completely missing a teasing far post cross from 56th-minute sub Anthony McNamee before Razak’s arrival nearly brought about a headline-making moment.
The striker, signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season only this week, scissor-kicked a searing volley from the edge of the box which was heading for the top corner before Fleming spectacularly palmed it away.
Razak nearly went from the sublime to the ridiculous with a series of enthusiastic challenges that earned the wrath of, and a ticking off from, referee Steve Bratt.
Oldham belatedly carved out three decent chances, an unmarked Hughes first heading wastefully wide from a free-kick before seeing Brezovan claw clear another goalbound nod 11 minutes from time.
And the big Slovak produced an equally brilliant effort to turn sub Lewis Alessandra’s strike around a post with five minutes to go.
So, only the second clean sheet of the season for Town the previous one being the 2-0 win over - you’ve guessed it - Oldham back on October 25 Kanyuka added: “Everyone is happy about the clean sheet and we can only move on to the next game on a high.
“It was a set-up to not get beat. Every man won their individual battle and it was a good point. We’ll get a huge amount of confidence from this result.’’
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/4092624.Pat_the_centre_of_attention/